Letter: Homeless problem needs city, state, federal answer

Michael PeabodySt. Augustine

Published Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Editor: As a tour guide here in St. Augustine, I see the homeless every day. They congregate around the Plaza; apathetic, indifferent, living lives with little hope of change. I also see business people frustrated with the knowledge tourists are becoming less inclined to visit our beautiful city because of the overabundance of these homeless here in our city.

Is there an answer? Can something be done so that the homeless are no longer an eyesore and are contributing citizens to St. Johns County's economy?

I believe St. Augustine, in conjunction with state and federal resources, could provide a solution if the effort was given.

For example:

Instead of having the homeless shelter downtown, place it outside the city limits and make it mandatory that the homeless live there if they want to live in St. Johns County.

If they are to stay here, they must contribute to the county by working for the city/county. The homeless can clean up trash on streets or roads; or do work they are capable of doing.

If they don't want to contribute, an escort to the county line would be appropriate with a warning not to come back.

All homeless should be documented within the county for potential criminal backgrounds.

All homeless must be documented if they are to live here. Refusal to do so would also entail an escort to the county line.

All homeless signing up for work details should receive a salary. Out of the salary, money should go to the homeless shelter for housing and psychological counseling to help those that need it.

Let the homeless contribute to our county's economy with a positive plan worthy of a beautiful city.